Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine最新文献

{"title":"Sociodemographic characteristics and participation of women in meliponiculture from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico.","authors":"Jesús Froylán Martínez-Puc, Miguel Ángel Magaña-Magaña, William Cetzal-Ix, Gustavo E Mendoza-Arroyo, Ángel Carmelo Sierra-Vasquez, Saikat Kumar Basu","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00745-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00745-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Meliponiculture is the breeding of stingless bees (SB) or bees of the Meliponini tribe. In Mexico, this activity was practiced before the arrival of the Spaniards, with the Yucatan Peninsula (YP) (comprising the states of Campeche, Quintana Roo and Yucatan) being the most important region due to its link with the economic, cultural and medicinal aspects of the Mayan communities. The objective of this study was to compare the sociodemographic characteristics and the participation of women in meliponiculture practiced in the YP. Our hypothesis suggests that the participation of women in meliponiculture is lower compared to that of men due to their sociocultural responsibilities in the community.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A total of 56 interviews were conducted between December 2021 and December 2023, using referral sampling (this procedure was used due to non-availability of any producer's list; and due the random nature of the information obtained from various producers belonging to different sociodemographic contexts). The interview form consisted of the following sections: basic information about the producer, gender, age, years of education, number of colonies, honey production and years of experience. The information collected was analyzed using a Student's t-test in the R program.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It was observed that 66% of meliponiculturists were men and 34% were women. Differences were observed in the average age and number of colonies, in men with 47.4 ± 3.24; years and 36.19 ± 10.28 colonies; while in women, it was 38.1 ± 2.80 (t = 2.14; p = 0.036; gl = 52) years and 14.00 ± 2.42 (t = 2.09; p = 0.042; gl = 40) colonies. No differences were observed between the years of education (8.84 ± 0.79; men and 8.74 ± 0.94 (women; t = 0.08; p = 0.935; gl = 45) and the honey obtained per colony (0.620 ± 0.04 kg/honey; men and 0.600 ± 0.08 kg/honey; women; t = 0.18; p = 0.853, gl = 26).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Meliponiculture in the YP is an activity practiced in a greater proportion by men; who also have a greater number of colonies compared to women. On the other hand, women who practice honey production are younger than men. The performance of rural women in commercial beekeeping has been affected by their traditional role in household activities and child care. They do not have enough time dedicated to meliponiculture; although the income they can obtain from the sale of products could contribute to the financial support of the family.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"104"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11657536/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The influence of urbanization on local ecological knowledge: a systematic review.","authors":"Juliana Melo Linhares Rangel, André Luiz Borba do Nascimento, Marcelo Alves Ramos","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00747-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00747-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Urbanization is a complex and multifaceted process studied across various scientific disciplines. However, in ethnobiology, research on the impacts of urbanization on local ecological knowledge (LEK) often lacks standardization and tends to focus primarily on local scales. This study aims to systematically characterize how researchers address urbanization in ethnobiology and assess its effects on LEK globally. We conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA protocol and selected 66 studies from the Web of Science and Scopus databases for analysis. Our findings reveal that researchers often do not adopt a consistent definition of urbanization, frequently framing their study areas within a simplistic urban-rural dichotomy. Although some studies used urbanization indicators, our qualitative analyses, including a correlation matrix, showed that these indicators were largely independent of each other. Additionally, principal component analysis (PCA) with clustering identified four groupings among the indicators, yet with low correlations between them. A t test analysis of the 66 papers shows that urbanization generally has a negative impact on LEK. Based on these findings, we emphasize the critical need for standardized urbanization indicators in ethnobiological studies and propose a new approach for characterizing urbanization, which will enhance the precision and relevance of future research in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"106"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11657303/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142856387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnobotanical study on factors influencing plant composition and traditional knowledge in homegardens of Laifeng Tujia ethnic communities, the hinterland of the Wuling mountain area, central China.","authors":"Shuwang Hou, Mengfan Yu, Zhen Yao","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00742-4","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00742-4","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background: &lt;/strong&gt;A homegarden is a conventional small-scale agricultural ecosystem dominated predominantly by humans. Homegarden plants, which are plants with specific functionalities that are either cultivated or consciously preserved within the homegarden, are the most critical elements of the homegarden and are capable of providing a multitude of products and services. Recognized as one of China's biodiversity hotspots, the Wuling mountain area has long been inhabited by multiple ethnic groups, each of which has accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge. This study focuses on the Tujia ethnic communities in Laifeng County, situated in the hinterland of the Wuling mountain area, with the primary objective of collecting, documenting, and organizing local homegarden plants, their functions, and the associated traditional knowledge, and exploring the factors influencing their composition and diversity.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods: &lt;/strong&gt;From May 2023 to August 2024, field surveys were conducted in Laifeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture, Hubei Province, China. Semi-structured interviews and participatory observation were used to gather information on homegarden plants with informed consent. To analyze and evaluate homegarden plants, we employed the relative frequency of citation (RFC) and Jaccard index (J) for quantitative analysis. Additionally, the factors influencing the composition of homegarden plants were investigated using redundancy analysis (RDA).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results: &lt;/strong&gt;This study documented a total of 414 species of homegarden plants from 114 families. These plants are primarily sourced from market purchases (158), spontaneous species (107), wild introductions (103), neighborhood sharing (59), and self-preservation (36). Homegarden plants serve multiple functions, including ornamental (201), medicinal (189), edible (165), traded (95), timber (34), forage (28), and other functions (11). There are 24 homegarden plants with an RFC greater than 0.5, indicating their high importance, including Allium fistulosum, Raphanus sativus, and Brassica rapa var. chinensis. The Jaccard index results suggest the highest degree of similarity between the homegarden plants in Geleche Town and Dahe Town. The RDA results established that knowledge of herbal medicine and homegarden area are two significant factors impacting the composition and diversity of homegarden plants, with the average age of the household resident population also exerting an influence.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions: &lt;/strong&gt;This study reveals the composition, source diversity, and functional diversity of homegarden plants within the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community, along with the influencing factors. These homegarden plants play an integral role in sustaining the balance of the homegarden ecosystem and supporting the daily lives of local residents. The management of homegarden plants by the Laifeng Tujia ethnic community carries traditional agricu","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"103"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11610127/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142774042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate change perceptions and adaptation by Sebei pastoralists in Mount Elgon, Uganda: a qualitative survey.","authors":"Siya Aggrey, Elsa Varela, Rodrigue Batumike, Aida Cuni-Sanchez","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00743-3","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00743-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Pastoralists' sedentarisation and agriculturalisation might increase their vulnerability to climate change impacts, but few studies have investigated if this is the case in mountain areas. In Uganda, little is known about how Sebei pastoralists have perceived and adapted to such changes. This study sought to establish perspectives of Sebei pastoralists on climate change in terms of its occurrence and impacts as well as access to livelihood assets and or opportunities to withstand such challenges.</p><p><strong>Method: </strong>This study was conducted in Mount Elgon areas of Uganda. A cross-sectional study design was employed using qualitative approaches. Data were collected using focus-group discussions with men and women village elders to assess their perceptions regarding climatic changes, impacts and adaption strategies used. Data were analysed using thematic and content analysis approaches. All analyses were done using NVivo version 14.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Respondents reported changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, fog and temperatures, with negative impacts on fodder availability, milk production and pests and diseases. Study participants mentioned using several adaptation strategies with regard to animal rearing, crop farming and livelihood diversification. Among others, participants reduced herd size, migrated longer distances, stored wild grass, used crop residues as feed and increased 'self-medication' of their cattle.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Access to funds, markets and technical advice were the main barriers to adaptation identified. Institutional support-now only focused on improved breeds-should consider the multiple strategies used by pastoralists, and the constraints they highlighted, including the need for mutual learning space.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"102"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-12-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11610302/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142773967","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnoecology and use of fishes by the Cubeo people from the Cuduyarí River, Colombian Amazonia.","authors":"Juan David Bogotá-Gregory, Luis Fernando Jaramillo Hurtado, Juan Felipe Guhl Samudio, Edwin Agudelo Córdoba","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00737-1","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00737-1","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Ethnoichthyology studies the knowledge of human communities about the uses, perception, and behavioral characteristics of fish, based on their cosmology, cosmogony, and culture. This study focused on the Cubeo (Pâmiwâ) ethnic group that inhabits the Cuduyarí River (Vaupés, Colombia) provides information on fishing activities, use of fishes, its ecological distributions (occurrence in rivers, pools, and/or streams) and seasonality (occurrence in low and/or high waters). Additionally, names in the Central Tukano language (Cubeo) are provided.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The compilation of information was based on a visual catalog prepared from rapid ecological evaluations, previously carried out by the Amazon Institute of Scientific Research SINCHI. Workshops with the indigenous people were held in communities in the lower, middle, and upper sections of the basin to collect information. Network analyses were done to determine the fishing gear selectivity of the most common species and gears used regarding ecosystems. The coherence in the perception of fish resources among the three communities was assessed via multivariate analyses.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The results showed that a large percentage (89%) of the species are consumed. There is a generalized perception of resource decline, and there is no coherence regarding the ecological and seasonal distributions of fish reported by the three communities. These differences may be due to an effect of the structural characteristics of the basin in the different sectors where the communities are located.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Species consumed by the Cubeo in the Cuduyarí do not represent a high commercial value at the Amazon River basin scale. Nevertheless, locally, they are the main source of animal protein and most of the time, the sole source of income. The importance of these species must be recognized and must be a priority for conservation. Knowledge related to the fish resource by indigenous groups, including basic information and its usage, is essential to guide and implement management and conservation strategies specific to each region under study.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"101"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11583506/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142689484","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnobotanical review of traditional use of wild food plants in Japan.","authors":"Yoshimi Osawa","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00736-2","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00736-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Japan, which has a diverse climate, is home to 8118 species of wild vascular plants, with more than 1000 of these species considered edible. However, there are fewer studies on the use of wild food plants in Japan than in other parts of the world. This research aims to provide an ethnobotanical review of the traditional food use of wild plants in Japan. It draws upon the largest database of traditional Japanese foodways, with a specific focus on the period approximately 1930. This occurred prior to Japan's rapid economic growth, which resulted in significant changes in the use of wild plants.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The use of wild food plants in Japan was reviewed by studying the collection of Japanese foodways (Nihon no shokuseikatsu zenshu), which is the largest database on Japanese traditional foodways and contains records of approximately 52,000 dishes, including food uses of wild plants. The review extracted the local and common names, use locations, uses, processing and cooking methods, habitats and other relevant details pertaining to the reported use of wild food plants. This information was subsequently analyzed via Excel.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 268 taxa belonging to 87 families used in Japan approximately 1930 were documented. Asteraceae was the most frequently reported family as well as the most species-rich family. In terms of use, vegetables composed the largest group, followed by dessert fruits. The majority of species have been documented in only a limited number of reports. The review revealed local traditional uses of plants, including the use of plants as binders for making rice cake, the selection of plants according to their sex, and techniques for detoxifying toxic plants.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>A comparison with those of previous studies on wild species used in other Asian regions revealed a similar preference for vegetables. However, notably, in Japan, ferns are also consumed in considerable quantities. Conversely, further elucidation is clearly needed with respect to certain matters, including the perception of plant sex and the relationships between diverse ash components and detoxification techniques. It is evident that further ethnobotanical research is needed, both in the form of an examination of ethnographic records and in the field, to gain a deeper understanding of the use of wild food plants in Japan.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"100"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11580399/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142689483","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wild food plant knowledge in multicultural peri-urban area of North-Western Punjab, Pakistan.","authors":"Amna Malik, Muhammad Adnan, Fahdah Falah Ben Hasher, Arshad Mehmood Abbasi, Mansour K Gatasheh, Zahid Ullah, Ali Abdullah Aldosari, Hazrat Ali, Muhammad Abdul Aziz","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00738-0","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00738-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The use of wild food ingredients has been inextricably linked to each human culture; therefore, any cultural shift or transformation also mutates the knowledge. Particularly cross-cultural interactions have been playing a significant role in reshaping the knowledge within a given community. The study aimed to cross-culturally research the use of wild food plants among four different ethnolinguistic groups, i.e. Muhajir, Pathans, Punjabi, and Saraiki residing in the peri-urban area of Mianwali district, Punjab Pakistan. Data were taken through semi-structured interviews, and the results of cross-cultural comparison were visualized through Venn diagrams and statistically tested through Jaccard index. A total of 59 plants were recorded, which were used mostly as cooked vegetables (29 species) and snacks (21 species). About one-fourth of the quoted plants were commonly used by all the studied groups. High similarity on the use of the quoted plants was found among Muhajir, Punjabi, and Saraiki. Punjabi reported higher numbers of plants, and Pathans quoted comparatively lesser number. Pathans reported a comparatively high number of idiosyncratic foods uses followed by Muhajir. Punjabi, Muhajir, and Saraiki have a very close affinity and have comparatively rich knowledge after comparing those food uses which were reported by more 50% of participants. Punjabi frequently reported some plant uses which were rarely reported by the other four groups. Additionally a large number of plants were also quoted along with their medicinal uses which were prepared in the same way for both food and medicine. Despite the fact that most of the food ingredients were prepared in a simialr way but still the distinct names of several plants were retained across the studied groups. In the current context, the ethnobotanies of the studied communities are a blend as they might have learned the knowledge on the use of these plants from one another. It is concluded that since the knowledge is still in the memory of the people and has no serious threat to its extinction at hand, however it is necessary to frame policy programs in order to use this knowledge for the sustainability of future food and medical system otherwise it may be lost.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"99"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11577911/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142676489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Isolated Mediterranean foraging: wild greens in the matrifocal community of Olympos, Karpathos Island, Greece.","authors":"Andrea Pieroni, Naji Sulaiman, Julia Prakofjewa, Shiekh Marifatul Haq, Dauro M Zocchi, Nikos Krigas, Vassiliki Chryssanthopoulou, Renata Sõukand","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00733-5","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00733-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Studies on the in-depth documentation of wild greens use in the Mediterranean Diet (MD) are vital to understanding patterns of cross-geographical change in wild food ingredients in the Mediterranean context, their appreciated taste, and possible evolution. Our present study aims to document the leafy, wild-sourced plant portion of the MD in the unique and isolated matrifocal community of Olympos, North Karpathos Isle, Greece.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>An ethnobotanical field study focussing on traditionally wild-sourced edible greens (chórta) was conducted during the spring of 2023 via 42 semi-structured interviews with local people.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Our study documented 69 wild green taxa, along with their culinary uses and linguistic labels. Half of the gathered wild greens have a bitter taste (i.e. members of Asteraceae and Brassicaceae), while 70% of the top-quoted greens are bitter. These greens were mostly consumed cooked. Nearly half of the quoted taxa had been previously recorded as used in the food system of central Crete. In contrast, one-fourth of the folk phytonyms recorded in Olympos do not match the ones found in Crete and the rest of Greece, which may be linked to the Doric culture that the community remained attached to because of its isolation. However, the plant-human interaction kernel is similar to that of surrounding areas. Moreover, the community of Olympos seems to rely less on aromatic wild greens (compared with Crete).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Cross-cultural foraging comparison is crucial for better understanding the circulation, exchange, and evolution of local plant knowledge under the MD umbrella. Our study assesses, in particular, how noteworthy phytolinguistic differences indicating different ancient trajectories of cultural encounters/exchanges may not necessarily be reflected in differences in terms of plant reports. As often postulated in linguistic ethnobiology, ancient linguistic labels sometimes remain as \"empty shells\". Given the fragile environment and the increasing over-tourism during the summer months the study site is experiencing, the presented data could contribute to a more substantial shift towards sustainable eco-tourism initiatives involving the foraging and cooking of wild greens.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"98"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11558844/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142631207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Plasmodial slime moulds (myxomycetes) in Swedish and Nordic folk biology.","authors":"Ingvar Svanberg, Sabira Ståhlberg","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00740-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1186/s13002-024-00740-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Folk biology commonly contains knowledge of many more taxa than those of immediate economic importance. Species with little or no practical use are, however, often overlooked by ethnobiological research. An example are a few Myxomycetes taxa which played an important role in the folk biology and beliefs of pre-industrial Sweden and adjacent Nordic countries, Denmark, Norway and Finland. Such organisms are not of less interest for the understanding of human-biota relationships; local knowledge about the entire biota in a given environment should therefore be studied to comprehend the full range of folk biology.</p><p><strong>Methodology: </strong>This qualitative study analyses and reviews historical data available in archives and published ethnographic collections as well as scattered and fragmentary notes in the literature using a historical ethnobiological approach.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Peasants in the Nordic countries recognized three taxa of myxomycetes. Scrambled egg slime, Fuligo septica (L.) F.H.Wigg., in particular attracted interest and is known by many local folk names. This slime had no practical value or use, yet it was well known in folk biology and associated with a supernatural malevolent being which in the shape of a hare or cat stole milk or butter on behalf of a witch. The belief in evil origins of slime became the cause of violent actions such as whipping and burning of the organism. Two other taxa, Lycogala epidendron (L.) Fr. and Mucilago crustacea F.H.Wigg., have also been observed in folk biology, but data on how they were perceived and treated is sparse.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The sudden appearance of strange shapes and clear colours of myxomycetes in damp weather created both fear and curiosity; these odd organisms required explanations, interpretations and actions. Our example of the economically irrelevant myxomycetes in Sweden and nearby Nordic countries indicates that interpretations in pre-industrial societies of natural phenomena and various organisms, connections with beliefs and perceptions about the surrounding environment and the possible consequent actions should be studied alongside economic plants and animals in ethnobiological research, for a deeper understanding about folk biology and the multilayered and multidimensional relationships between humans and biota.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"97"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11555883/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142631224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Core-periphery structure of a medicinal botanical system in Uruguay.","authors":"Elena Castiñeira Latorre, Ana Inés Borthagaray, Andrés Canavero","doi":"10.1186/s13002-024-00739-z","DOIUrl":"10.1186/s13002-024-00739-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Human evolution has granted upon an individual's cognitive mechanisms necessary for remembering experiences, vital for both survival and reproduction. These experiences manifest into cultural traits, influencing human culture, particularly in healthcare and maintenance. Studies regarding medicinal plants and treatments are integral to the study of the medical botanical system. Pharmacopeias highlight the prevalence of specific species widely used, aligning with the \"consensus within diversity theory\" in evolutionary ethnobiology. Within the framework of this theory, we reflect on the results we've achieved in a priority area recognized by UNESCO for its biocultural significance, both locally and regionally.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This study integrated network analysis and qualitative methods to examine the botanical medical system of \"Parque Regional Quebradas del Norte\" in Rivera, Uruguay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Study results demonstrate a core-periphery structure, with a strongly interconnected core resistant to fragmentation, ensuring structural stability. Additionally, the presence of peripheral nodes throughout the system was identified, enhancing the resilience of the botanical medicinal system against potential disturbances.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The core species renowned for their versatility and multiple medicinal uses, treating less severe ailments effectively. Additionally, core plants serve as prototypes for innovations. Their extinction poses a threat to the system's resilience. Conversely, peripheral plants, though vulnerable, offer possibilities for therapeutic innovations. In the face of environmental change, conservation efforts should prioritize species that are vulnerable to extinction, particularly within the core. Simultaneously, preserving knowledge associated with peripheral plants presents a bicultural conservation strategy, ensuring the botanical system's robustness among evolving ecological conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":49162,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine","volume":"20 1","pages":"96"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11539799/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142584557","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}